Adjustable sick bed



April 19. 1927.

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W. B. GARDINER ADJUSTABLE SICK BED Filed Sept. 6. 1924 Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,625,534 PATENT QFFICE.

WILLIAM B. GARDINER, OF QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF FORTY-EIGHT ONE-HUNDREDTI-IS TO SEBASTIANO BIARCHESE, OF QUINCY,.MASSACHUSETTS.

ADJUSTABLE SICK- BED.

Application filed September The object of this invention is to provide an adjustable bed particularly intended and adapted for hospitals and other sick rooms, but capable of use in the ordinary way as well, having compact and efficient means for raising either end of the spring or bed bottom, and otherwise equipped for propping up the occupant in a reclining position. The exact nature and utility of the invention can best be explained in connection with the description of a specific embodiment shown in the accompanying illustrations.

In these illustrations:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my novel bed showing in dotted lines an elevated position of one end of the spring or bed bottom and an inclined position of the back rest;

Fig. 2 is a planof the bed with parts of the spring or bed bottom broken away;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the head of the bed with back rest connected thereto.

Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical sectional views of the lower part of one of the bed posts, the planes of section being respectively crosswise and lengthwise of the bed; a

Fig. 6 is in part an elevation and in part a vertical section of the upper end of one of the posts;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the travellers or elevators for the bed bottom.

Like reference characters designate the same parts wherever they occur in all the figures.

The main or basic structure of the bed may be of any desired character subject to the provisions hereinafter described for operating mechanism. As here illustrated I have made it of a head piece consisting of two posts 1 and 2 and transverse bars or tubes 3, a foot piece consisting of posts at and 5 and cross bars 6, and longitudinal side bars 7 which are detachably connected to the head and the foot structures in any suit able manner.

The four posts of the bed are tubular or hollow and each has a slot 8 running along one side. The slot-ted sides of the head posts are turned toward the foot structure of the bed and the slotted sides of the foot posts are turned toward the head structure. In each post is a longitudinal upright screw 9 mounted at its ends in bearings 10 and 11 which are suitably secured in the posts, conveniently by being screwed therein. A ring- 6, 1924. Serial No. 736,229.

shaped traveler or nut 12 is fitted to each screw and is adapted to travel lengthwise of the posts when the screw is turned. The several rings or nuts are connected to the corners of the bed bottom and serve to elevate either or both ends of the bed bottom, wherefore I have chosen to call these rings the bed bottom elevators. By the term bed bottom? 1 means that part of the bed on which the occupant lies, and within that meaning are included-the usual bed spring of whatever construction desired, and any other mattress support. Each ring is formed with a lug 13 passing through the slot in its post, and to the projecting end of the lug there is connected by a pivot 14, a rod or stem 15.

The bed spring or other mattress support may be of any usual or other suitable construction provided it is made with sockets at the parts adjacent to the posts adapted to receive the rods 15. a I have made it with two side bars 16, end bars 17 and a spring fabric 18, and have provided the sockets for the rods 15 by making the side bars 16 out of tubes and leaving their ends open. Of course it is understood thatthese tubes are of the right size internally to fit the bars 15 and permit the latter to slide endwise therein.

On one end of each screw 9, preferably the lower end, is secured a bevel pinion 19 and this meshes with a driving bevel gear 20. The driving gears in the posts 1 and 2 are both mounted on the same shaft 21 which passes across between the posts and has its bearing in them, one end of the shaft projecting from the outer end of post 1 and being square to receive the socket of a crank or wrench 22, shown in Fig. 3. A similar shaft 23 is mounted in the posts at and 5 and carries the driving gears in said posts, and is also adapted to be rotated by the crank 22. Thus when either the shaft 21 or the shaft 23 is rotated the travelers in the posts to which that shaft is coupled are raised or lowered simultaneously and the connected end of the spring is correspondingly raised or lowered. The telescopic connection made between the spring and the travelers or elevators, by means of the stems 15 entering the tubular bars 16, permits this motion to take place freely. Thus the whole spring may be raised to any height, or either end may be raised higher than the other to any extent limited only by the height of the posts and driving screws.

A back rest 25 is connected to the head piece of the bed by means of bars 26 and 27 which are pivoted to the upper cross bar ot the head piece and have a telescopic connection with the late :11 frame members of the back rest, in which they may be adjustably secured by set screws 28. Such back rest may be used to support the occupants bacl: at an inclination. other than the inclination oi? the spring as awhole, when either end of the spring is raised above the other, or when it is horizontal and at any height. hen needed the back rest may be secured out oi? the way of the spring by placing its bottom edge in a hook 29 which is mounted on the head structure.

it will be apparent from the foregoing explanation that by means of a very simple compact and inexpensive mechanism, I have provided a means by which the bed may be adjusted to place or support the occupant in an ot the positions needed for medical or surgical treatment and in convalescence from illness. At the same time the mechanism is entirely concealed and does not detract from the appearance oi the bed. Hence the bed is adapted to be put to ordinary household use subject to use at need for special sick room purposes.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A bed having corner posts, driving shafts mounted respectively in the two corner posts at each end, each constructed at one end to receive a driving crank, a longiit e a tudinal screw contained in each post, a bevel gear on each of said screws, bevel gears on the adjacent shaft meshing with the gears on the screws to rotate the screws, travelers titted to said screws to progress lengthwise and projecting through slots in the posts, a bed bottom, and pivoted. extensible couplings between said travelers and the bed bottom.

2. An adjustable sick bed comprising a frame having; corner posts and connecting bars, screws mounted longitudinally in the several posts. followers threaded on the screws within said posts, each tollower hav ing' a partprojecting through a slot in the side ol its post toward the post at the same side and opposite end oi? the bed, a separate bed bottom having side bars with open sockets in their opposite ends. coupling rods inserted slidahly in said sockets, each oi. said coupling rods projecting from the end ot the bar in which it is mounted and having pivotal connection with the part of the tollower which projects from the adjacent post, transverse shafts mounted in the two posts at each end (it the bed. bevel. gears mounted on the screws in the several posts, and complcmental bevel gears on said transverse shatts located and arranged in mesh with the bevel gears of the several screws, each transverse shacl't being; independent of the other and having: a protruding end adapted to receive and be rotated by a crank.

In testinion whereof I have affixed my signature.

WILLIAM B. G'ARDINER.

CERTIFECATE oe GQRRECTIQN.

Patent No. 1,625,534. Granted April 19, 1927, to

WILLiAh/i B. GARDINER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring eorrectien as follows: Page 2, line 42, claim 1, after the word "lengthwise" insert the Word "thereof"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ufiiee.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of May, A. E. 1927.

Mi 5. Moore, Seal. Acting ijommissiener of Patents. 

